Monday, December 03, 2012

Review - Life of Pi (2012)

Adapted from Yann Martel's fantasy novel of the same name, Life of Pi boasts the best 3D effects I have ever seen in a movie. The book was deemed "un-filmable" but Ang Lee proved critics wrong and made a marvel of an adaptaion.

The story is basically told in flashback sequence and storytelling where a grown Pi (Irfan Khan) gives an account of his life to a man (Rafe Spall), a writer interested in writing a book about him. Pi reminisces about his childhood where he was often teased about his real name in school. As a child he became very enthused by the different religions and wanted to be closer to "God", although he was initially raised as Hindu. As the movie goes along, we see Pi develop a love interest but faces the disappointment of having to move from India to Canada. But this is where the fun starts, this is where we see why this movie has been receiving all the critical praise and hype.

While on their way to their new life, an unsuspecting violent storm sinks the ship in which they were travelling in and Pi's family is killed. He is left stranded on the lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a few zoo animals, whom his father had intended to sell. In this part of the film, we see strategic survival tactics being demonstrated by Pi and we also witness this film evolve into a beautiful visual piece of art.The visuals and imagery of this film were breathtaking and even the zoo animals seemed so surreal and involving.

The movie started out a bit slow but it definitely picked up with Suraj Sharma's resilient performance and his unexpected bond with the tiger on the lifeboat. As Pi struggles for survival, he also finds a redeemed faith in God which further adds to the religious aspect of this film. This will more or so please religious audiences.

The strength ofLife of Pi lies in its visuals but I totally adored the storytelling and Suraj Sharma's warm performance. An inspiring and interesting story of courage, survival and faith. Life of Pi isn't just a tale or an adventure, it is an experience for the ages. One of the few movies that must be seen in 3D for you to really appreciate Ang Lee's brilliant film-making.

Rating: 9/10

Movies Also Watched:

Take This Waltz (2012)
A story of how a woman came to fall in love with her neighbor. Funny enough, she is seemingly "happily married" but that didn't stop a beautiful bond developing between Margot (Michelle Williams) and Daniel (Luke Kirby). Solid performances from the cast in this warm, moving, yet charming look at love, marriage, infidelity and happiness. - 8/10

Sister (2012)
This film follows a young boy name Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) who steals from rich guests at a ski resort to provide for his "sister". The chemistry between the two leads was just simply amazing to watch. The story impressively unravels a twist and you will definitely find yourself engaged in this heartfelt, beautifully written and acted French drama. - 9/10

The Imposter (2012)
Definitely one of the best documentaries I have seen. A haunting story of a man who tricks a family into believing he's their missing son. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat just wondering what's gonna happen and I just love how it slowly evolved into a crime thriller. A mysterious, thought-provoking and well put documentary with an unbelievable story. - 10/10

Take The Money And Run (1969)
Take The Money And Run follows the life of Virgil Starkwell (Woody Allen), perhaps the worst thief and bankrobber in history. An entertaining crime comedy filled with gags and slapstick humor and funny narration. - 9.5/10

Burn After Reading (2008)
The Coen's are masters of dark comedy and it was no different in Burn After Reading. A movie fueled by great and memorable performances especially from George Clooney and Brad Pitt. An unusual story centered around three characters and it was a fun and thrilling ride. - 9.5/10

Dont Look Now (1973)
After the death of their young daughter, a couple is haunted by a series of strange occurrences at their new city of residence. The leads were solid and it may give you a few chills here and there but quite frankly, the story really wasn't that interesting. - 6/10